Electric cut-out



y 1939- R. s. BENNETT 2,164,983

ELECTRIC GUT-OUT Filed July 14, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a P enne y 1%,: a. AMLZZ Attorney,

R. S. BENNETT ELECTRIC CUT-OUT July 4, 1939.

Filed July 14, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i WW/W? R LTIEGnBtOT Z ap ennett y K fjwlm His Attorney.

July 4, 1939. s, BENNETT 2,164,983

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT Filed July 14, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 2/2 t I: z Will/9%WWI/VV/V/Vii/WVI/JIVM Ha I p h 6. B enn ett Attorny.

Patented July 4, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CUT-OUT Ralph S. Bennett, Pittsfield, Mass., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application July 14, 1937, Serial No. 153,529

" 36 Claims.

The present invention relates to electric cutouts and has for one of its objects the provision of improvements in fuse cutouts particularly of the automatic circuit, reclosing type.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a circuit reclosing fuse unit of improved construction and arrangement of parts for use in an electric cutout.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved circuit reclosing mechanism and time delay mechanism for use therewith.

As to certain features of the present invention, a still further object is the provision of improved mechanism for carrying out the invention of the copending application of G. F. Lincks, Serial No.

153,508, which application was filed concurrently. with the present application and is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Other objects and details of that which I be- 'lieve to be novel and my invention will become apparent from the following description and the claims appended thereto, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. While my in-' vention may be incorporated in cutouts of either 5 the open type or the enclosed type as will become apparent'hereinafter, I have chosen, as the best means of conveying a complete understanding of all features of the invention, to illustrate and describe three exemplary embodiments thereof 39 as incorporated in enclosed fuse cutouts of the drop-out type.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows parts of one of the exemplary fuse cutouts in normal operative position; Fig. 2 shows the relative positions of the parts of the cutout after operation of one of the fuses therein; Fig. 3 shows in part the positions occupied by the fuses and other parts of the cutout after drop-out following operation of the final oneof the fuses; Fig. 4 is a detail exploded view of the fuse holder supporting parts,

circuit reclosing mechanism, and timing mechanism; Fig. 5 shows a secondform of cutout embodying the present invention and with the parts in normal operative position; Fig. 6 shows the relative positions of the parts of the cutout of Fig. 5 after operation of one of the fuses therein; Fig. 7 shows in part the positions occupied by the fuses after drop-out followingoperation of the final one of the fuses; Fig. 8 is a detail ,view' of certain of the parts of the cutout of Fig. 5'; Fig. 9 is a detail exploded view of the fuse holder supporting parts, circuit reclosing mechanism, and timing mechanism of the cutout of Fig. 5; Fig. 10 shows a third form of fuse cutout embodying the present invention and with the parts in normal operative positions; Fig. 11 shows the relative positions of the parts of the cutout of Fig. 10 after operation of one of the fuses therein; Fig. 12 shows in part the positions occupied by the fuses and other parts of the cutout of Fig. 5 10 following operation of the final one of the fuses; and Fig. 13 is a detail exploded view of the fuse holder supporting parts and circuit reclosing mechanism of the cut out of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, IO-indicates an elec- 10 tric cutout casing of the type commonly employed in non-reclosing fuse cutout installations. The casing is constructed of porcelain or other suitable insulating material and has an integrally formed electric creepage and gas barrier ll 15 disposed between stationary line terminal contacts l2 and I3 carried by the casing. To the rear of the casing is secured a mounting bar l4 for the attachment of the casing to an electric line pole and cross-arm structure or the like. A hinge 20 bracket I5 is secured to the inner face of the rear wall of the casing adjacent the bottom thereof and is provided with a stop 16 for engaging a fuse holder tube or its hinged supporting element when the fuse holder is in dropped-out 25 position. Contacts I2 and I3 are adapted to have L line conductors or leads fastened thereto by means of clamping screws I2 and I3 respectively, and upper contact I2 has a contact finger l1 backed up by means of a spring strip l8, which 3 serves to press the finger I! downwardly, and has also a pair of spaced resilient contact fingers l9, one of which is shown in the drawings, which are arranged to receive a fuse holder terminal cap 'therebetweem 35 In the exemplary embodiments illustrated, there are provided a pair of fuse holders 20 and 2| of the expulsion type which consist of fuse tubes of insulating material having contact caps 22 and 23 respectively secured to the upper ends thereof and which have fuse links disposed therein with the upper ends of the fuse links conterial which has holes or sockets for receiving the fuse holders, as best shown in the detail view of Fig. 4. The fuse holders are held tightly in the supporting element by means of pins 21 and 2B which pass through the supporting element into engagement with the fuse holders and which project outwardly on opposite sides of the supporting element, as indicated in the drawings. Thus the holders are maintained against lateral as well as longitudinal displacement relative to each other. The two fuse holders and their supporting element constitute part of a unitary fuse assembly which is removably supported in casing I0 by means of a lever element 30, one end of'which is attached to fuse holder supporting element 26 and the other end of which has a hook-shaped portion 3| for detachable engagement with the hinge pin 32 carried by the hinge bracket l5.

The details of the construction of lever element 30 are best shown in Fig. 4, from which it will be seen that the upper end of the lever has a cross-web 33 from which extend upwardly in rigidly spaced apart relationship two arms 34. The arms 34 are provided with openings, roughly triangular in shape, for receiving pins 21 and also pins 35 carried by fuse holder supporting element 26. Viewing the lever element in its normal position illustrated in Fig. 1, the inner edges 36 of the triangular shaped openings are slightly curved inwardly toward the interior of the triangle, while the outer edges 31 of the openings are substantially straight. The lower edges of the triangular openings are divided into two portions, the inner one of which, designated 40, curves outwardly and upwardly, as

' viewed when the lever element; is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, to humps 4| substantially midway of the bottom edges, while the outer portions of the bottom edges, designated 42, curve outwardly and downwardly from the humps 4|. Lever element 30 is arranged to be latched normally in rigid relation to fuse holder 20 by means of the fuse link extension 24 which is anchored to the lever by means of a suitable terminal clamping device indicated at 43 and which extension is passed around a projection 44 on the lever, as shown in Fig. 1. With the lever held in rigid relation to fuse holder 20 by means of fuse link extension 24, pins 21 on fuse holder supporting element 26 bear against the inner edges 36 of the triangular openings in the lever element while pins 35 rest in the inner corners of the triangular openings formed by the inner edges 36 of the openings and the inner portions, of the bottom edges of the openings. When the hinge lever 30 is attached to hinge bracket I5 and is held in rigid relation to fuse-holder 20, the unitary fuse assembly may be swung upwardly to its normal operative position illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein contact finger presses 7 downwardly on contact cap 22 of fuse holder 20, while contact fingers I 9 engage contact cap 22 to hold the assembly in normal operative position. Thus, the upper end of the fuse link in fuse holder 20 is connected to stationary contact |2 through contact cap 22 and contact fingers I1 and Hi. The lower end of the fuse link in fuse holder 20, or extension 24, is connected with lower stationary contact |3 through fuse terminal clamp 43, hinge lever 30 and a contact arm 46 which is pivotally mounted on a" pin 41 supported in openings 41, in the arms 34 of the hinge lever. Contact arm 46 is biased into engagement with contact |3 by means of a coil spring 48 and aflexible metal shunt strip 49 20, fuse link extension 24 is released to permit movement of the fuse holder assembly relative to hinge lever 30. The outward force due to the pressure of spring biased arm 46 against contact l3 tends to cause the lower end of the assembly to swing outwardly, while the upper end of the assembly is latched in its inward po-.

sition-by the contact fingers IS. The outward movement of the lower end of the assembly is limited to a substantially pure pivoting of the lower end of the assembly about the upper end of the assembly by theformation of the edges of the triangular openings in the hinge lever. This is due to the fact that during the initial outward swinging of the hinge lever about hinge pin 32, pins 21 ride upwardly along the inner edges 36 of the triangular shaped openings, while the pins .35 ride upwardly along the inner portions 40 of the bottom edges of the triangular openings so that pins 35, up to the time that they reach the humps 4|, do not follow arcs having hinge pin 32 as their center, but rather follow paths which are substantially arcs of circles having a point adjacent the upper end of fuse holder 20 as their center. As a result of this arrangement, there is no tendency for contact cap 22 to become disengaged from contact fingers |9 during the initial outward swinging of the lower end of the fuse holder assembly.

The supporting hinge mechanism just described is a modification of that disclosed and broadly claimed in U. S. Letters Patent No.

2,081,814 to Benjamin R. Hermann, which latter hinge mechanism also may be employed in the as set forth in connection with the first embodi ment now being described or the other two embodiments described hereinafter.

The initial outward swinging of the lower end of the fuse holder assembly is stopped and the fuse holder assembly is maintained in a second position, illustrated in Fig. 2, by the wedging action furnished by engagement of pins 35 with humps 4| and the engagementof pins 50, rigidly mounted onhinge lever 30, with a detent arm 5| of insulation material. This detent arm 5| is rigidly mounted omand extends inwardly from a U-shapedmember 52 which is pivotally mounted on pins 28 and depends from fuse holder supporting element 26. The U-shap'ed element 52 is normally held in rigid relation to fuse holder 2| by means of fuse' link extension 25 which is anchored to a fuse terminal 53 carried by the lower end of the U-shaped member 52,

such as indicated at 54. With the fuse holder assembly in its second position illustrated in Fig. 2, the cutout casing door 55, attached to the fuse holders, is ,in a partially open position to give indication of operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 20.

Door 55. is pivotally attached to the fuse holder supporting element or clamp 26 by' means of a bracket 56 carried by the door and having openby means of a suitable terminal clamping device lugs 51 formed for snap engagement with pins 28 carried by the fuse holder supporting element. Thus the door and the fuse holders are-rotatable relative to each other about pins 28. Provision for relative movement apart of the fuse holders and door is necessitated by the special construction of the door which has a recess 60 in the inner face thereof for accommodating the outer fuse holder 2|, a portion of the fuse holder supporting element 26 and other parts of the mechanism herein described. Cutout casings as ordinarily employed in non-reclosing fuse cutout installation are relatively shallow since it is necessary for them to accommodate only a single fuse holder. Such casings would have insuflicient depth to accommodate a plural fuse holder assembly of the type illustrated. Hense, in order to carry out one of the principal objectives of the present invention, which is the provision of a circuit reclosing fuse unit which may be employed to convert a non-reclosing fuse cutout to a reclosing fuse cutout without modification of the cutout supporting structure, it is highly desirable to provide a door of the type illustrated having the inner face'thereof recessed for the accommodation of those parts of the fuse unit which would project beyond the open face of a cutout casing of the type ordinarily provided in non-reclosing cutout installations. Thus it is made possible to install a reclosing fuse cutout of the type illustrated in a relatively shallow casing primarily designed for the accommodation only of a nonreclosing fuse unit and to have the door properly close the open side of the casing to prevent exposure of the internal parts to adverse weather conditions.

A quick releasable latch is provided for holding the fuse holders and door in their: normal relationship wherein the fuse holder 2| is disposed in recess 68. This latch comprises a metal clamping bar 6| which has openings in the body portion thereof for receiving the upper ends of the fuse holders and a metal strap 82 mounted on the door with the body portion of the strap slightly spaced from the inner surface of the door to form a socket for receiving a bent-over portion 63 of clamping bar 6|. The bent-over portion 63 is formed with a boss 64 for snap engagement with an opening 65 in strap 62. Clamping bar 6| is slidable on the fuse holders, but is arranged to be held normally in engagement with contact caps 22 and 23 by means of upturned clip arms 66 formed integral with the clamping bar and a resilient spacing element 61 carried by the bar, which spacing element is arranged between the two contact caps to press them outwardly into firm engagement with the clip arms 66. For release of the latch to permit relative movement between the upper ends of the fuse holders and the upper end of the door, it is necessary only to slide the clamping bar 6| downwardly on the fuse'holders so as to disengage the bent-over portion'63 of the bar from the socket provided by strap 62.

In order to secure reclosure of the electric circuit through the fuse link in fuse holder 2| upon operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 20 and outward movement of the door to indieating position, there is provided a circuit reclosing mechanism the parts of which are best shown in the detail exploded view of Fig. 1. This mechanism includes a pair of switch arms 10 pivotally supportedon pivot pins 1| which engage'openings- 12 in the opposite arms 34 of hinge lever 30 so that the switch arms 10 are rotatable one of the switch arms 70, is provided for biasing the switch arms toward circuit closing position upon release of connecting strap 13 due to relative movement between fuse holder 20 and hinge lever 30. When the switch arms 1|] are in circuit closing position, as indicated in Fig. 2, they engage projections 16 carried by U-shaped element 52 to complete an electric connection between fuse terminal 53 and lower contact l3.v

Stop pins 11 are mounted on projections 16 to prevent further rotation of the switch arms 18 out of engagement with the projections 16.

It is desirable to delay reclosure of the electric circuit through the fuse link in fuse holder 2| upon operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 28 so as to make it possible for a temporary fault to clear itself or to be permanently cleared by operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 2|). To this end, I have provided a time delay mechanism in the form of a mechanical escapement carried by hinge lever 38 and connected for delaying movement of switch arms 18 from their open circuit positions illustrated in Fig. 1 to their circuit closing positions illustrated in Fig. 2. By reference particularly to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the escape wheel of the timing mechanism is mounted on one end of a shaft 8| which is rotatably supported in openings 82 in the hinge lever arms 34. On the opposite end of shaft 8| is mounted a pinion gear 83 which engages a gear 84 mounted on a rectangular shaped stub 85 formed integrally with one of the pivot pins H which support switch arms 10. The pawl carrying element 86, which has pawls 81 arranged to engage the teeth of escape wheel 88, is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin 98 which is mounted in an opening 9| in one of the arms 34 of hinge lever 30. Suspended from element 86 is an arm 92 having nuts 93 screwed on the end thereof to serve as adjustable inertia weights to control the oscillation of element 86. I

Upon operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 28 which is normally connected between stationary contacts l2 and I3, hinge lever 30 is released so that the lower end of the fuse assembly may swing outwardly, in the manner previously described, to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the door gives indication of operation of the first fuse. Also, as a result of the relative movement between the hinge lever and fuse holder 20, strap 13 is released to permit rotation of switch arms 10 under the influence of springs 14 from their open circuit positions indicated in Fig. 1, to their closed circuit positions indicated in Fig. 2. This rotation is delayed by means of nism comprising escape wheel 80 and pawl carrying element 88. When the switch arms lfl'finally reach their circuit closing positions wherein they are in engagement with projections 16 on eletact cap 23, the fuse link in fuse olde 2 use link extension I 25, fuse terminal 58, element, V

.. 65; the gears 83 and 84 and the escapement mecharent,the fuse link in fuse holder 2I operates to release fuse link extension 25. Thereupon element 52 is released and is swung to the right, as [viewed in the drawings, under the influence of a -'spring 94 which has one end connected to ele- 'ment 52 and the other end connected to an eyelet 95fastened to the door. This serves to release detent arms 5| from the pins 50 carried I by hinge lever 30 so as to permit further pivoting provided by strap 62.

ofthe hinge lever relative to the fuse holders. The hinge lever thereupon swings outwardly, under the influence of the pressure exerted by contact arm 45, from its position illustrated in Fig. 2, and pins 35 carried by fuse holder supporting element 26 ride over the humps 4| on to the downwardly extending portions 42 of the lower edges of the openings in the hinge lever arms 34. This permits the fuse assembly to drop downwardly sufficiently to disengage contact cap 22 from latching contact fingers I9 so that the fuse assembly may swing outwardly toward dropped-out position wherein both of the fuse holders are disconnected from the stationary contacts. The positions of the parts of the circuit reclosing mechanism relative to each other and to the door and fuse holders after operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 2| are indicated in Fig. 3 wherein the fuse assembly is illustrated in part in a position intermediate that shown in Fig. 2 and the final dropped-out position. When the fuse assembly is in droppedout position, the lower end of fuse holder 20 bears against the bottom of hinge lever 30 and the lower edge of the cutout casing to prevent rotation of the fuse holders and door below a substantially horizontal position.

To replace ruptured fuse links the fuse assembly is removed from casing I by disengagement of hinge lever 30 from hinge bracket I5. Clamping bar is then disengaged from strap 52 and slid downwardly on the fuse holders so that the fuse holders may be swung outwardly about pins 28 from the recess in the door for removal of contact caps 22 and 23 and insertion of new fuse links in the fuse holders, it being unnecessary to completely detach the fuse holders from the door for this operation. After new fuse links are installed and the contact caps are screwed on the fuse holders, the latter are pressed back into the door recess and clamping bar 6| slid upwardly on the fuse holders and latched in the socket Switch arms are then rotated downwardly into parallel relation with fuse, holder 20, as illustrated in Fig. 1 and hinge lever 30, latched in rigid relation to fuse holder 20 by drawing fuse link extension 2'4 taut and anchoring it to the hinge lever by means of clamp 43. Finally the U-shaped element 52 is swung into parallel relation with fuse holder 2I, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and latched in place against the action of spring 94 by, drawing the fuse link extension 25 taut and anchoring it to terminal 53 by means of clamp 54. The fuse assembly may then be installed in the cutout casing by engaging the hook-shaped portion 3| of lever 30 with hinge pin 32 and rotating the assembly upwardly about hinge pin 32 until contact fingers I9 engage contact cap 22 to hold the assembly in normal operative position. A handle 95 is provided on door 55 for manual rotation of the assembly into or out of normal operative position. Inthe embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, there is provided a fuse holder supporting element I00 having openings or sockets for receiving the fuse holders 20 and 2I in parallel side by side relationship and maintaining them against lateral and longitudinal displacement relative to each other. As best shown in Fig- 9, this fuse holder supporting element has two arms IOI projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced parallel relationship. Adjacent the outer ends 'of the arms are oppositely disposed opening's I02 for receiving a pivot pin I03 and oppositely disposed openings I04 for receiving a pivot pin I05. Pivot pin I03 is arranged to support rotatably between the two arms IOI, a contact arm I06 which is biased by means of a spring I01 to engage lower stationary contact I3 carried by cutout casing I0. One end of spring I0! is disposed in a recess I08 in the rear of contact arm I06 while the other end of the spring is mounted on a projection I09 of fuse holder supporting element I00. The opposite ends of pin I05 extend outwardly beyond arms IOI of the fuse holder supporting element and are arranged to support rotatably a hinge lever I I0 having two parallel spaced apart arms III provided with openings 2' for receiving the ends of pin I05. Hinge lever IIO has a hook-shaped portion II3 for engagement with hinge pin 32 carried by the hinge bracket I5 supported by easing I0. The hinge lever is adapted to be latched in rigid relation to the fuse holder 20 by means of the extension 24 of the fuse link in fuse holder 20, which fuse link extension is passed around the projection II4 of the hinge lever and anchored to the hinge lever by means of a suitable terminal clamp indicated at II5. With the hinge lever latched in rigid relation to fuse holder 20, the fuse assembly may be swung upwardly about hinge pin 32 to its normal operative position, illustrated in Fig. 1 in which it is latched by engagement of contact fingers I9 with contact cap 22 on fuse holder 20. Thus, normally the circuit between the spaced stationary contacts I2 and I3 carried by the casing I0 extends through contact fingers I1 and I 9, contact cap 22, the fuse link in fuse-holder 20, fuse link extension 24, fuse terminal clamp II5, hinge lever I,I0 and arm /III, a portion of arms IOI of the fuse holder supporting element I00, and contact arm A cutout casing door I20 is pivotally attached to fuse holder supporting element I00 by means of a U-shaped bracket I2I which has outwardly projecting ears I22 secured to the door by means of screws I23 and which has spaced apart parallel extending arms I24 arranged to accommodate fuse holder supporting element I00 therebetween, the arms I24 having slots I25 for pivotal and slidable engagement with pins I25 mounted in openings I21 in the opposite sides of the fuse holder supporting element. Door I20 has a recessed inner face for accommodating the fuse holder 2| and the circuit reclosing mechanism to be described hereinafter and has mounted on its inner face a retaining clip I30, the resilient arms of which have openings I3I arranged for quick releasable engagement with projections I32 carried by a clamp I33 mounted on the fuse holders adjacent the upper ends thereof. Clamp I33 is of metal and is mounted in engagement with contact caps 22 and 23 so as electrically to connect these two caps together and thereby provide a connection between the upper end of the fuse link in fuse holder 2|, which is connected to cap 23, and contact fingers I1 and I9. The

clamp also aids in maintaining the two fuse holders in proper side by side relationship. Normally, the upper ends of the fuse holders are maintained in their inner positions relative to the door recess by engagement of retaining clip I30 with projections I32 on clamp I33, while the lower ends of the fuse holders are maintained in their inner positions relative to the door recess by means of the extension 25 of the fuse link in fuse holder 2 I, which fuse link extension is drawn taut and anchored to a fuse terminal I34, carried by a projecting foot I35 formed integrally with the door, by means of a clamp I36. Fuse terminal I34 is normally isolated from lower stationcurved surfaces IOI' ary contact I3 so that the fuse link in fuse holder 2| is not connected between the stationary contacts. A spring I31, one end of which bears against a portion of the door and the other of which bears against a projection I38 on fuse holder supporting element I00, tends to force the door outwardly with respect to the fuse holders to the extent permitted by the length of slots I25, but relative movement apart of the lower ends of the fuse holders and the lower end of the door normally is prevented by fuse link extension 25.

In order to secure reclosure of the circuit through the fuse link in fuse holder 2| upon operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 20 there is provided a circuit reclosing mechanism which includes a movable contact I40 mounted on the lower end of a bellows I4I which is attached to a barrier element I42 supported by the door. On the other side of the barrier I42 from bellows MI is a second bellows I43 which is accommodated in a cavity formed in the inner face of the door. These two bellows are filled with a fluid, as indicated at I44, and when contact I40 is forced upwardly into its open circuit position illustrated in Fig. 1, the fluid forced through an orifice I45 in barrier I42 creates a pressure in bellows I43 which tends to force fluid backward through the orifice I45 into bellows I4I to expand the latter and move contact I40 into engagement with fuse terminal I34. If desired, bellows I4I may be provided with a compression'spring to aid in moving contact I40 downwardly. However, the contact I40 is normally held in its open circuit position by means of levers I46 disposed on opposite sides of fuse holder 2I and rotatably supported on pins I41 carried by depending projections I48 of bracket I2I. One end of each of these levers has slotted connection, as indicated at I50, with a pin I5I carried by contact I40, while the other end of each of these levers has a projecting boss I52 arranged to engage an edge of the open side of casing I0, as indicated at I53 in the detail view of Fig. 8. Door I20 has notches I54 for accomodating bosses I52 when the door is in its closed position.

As previously pointed out, the fuse link in fuse holder 20 normally is connected between stationary contacts I2 and I3 carried by the cutout casing and the parts of the circuit reclosing fuse unit are in their positions illustrated in Fig. 5. Upon operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 20, fuse link extension 24 releases hinge lever IIO for movement relative to the fuse holders and contact arm I06 presses against stationary contact I3 under the influence of spring I01 to force the lower end of the fuse assembly outwardly. Arms III of lever IIO support therebetween a roller I49 which engages curved surfaces IN on the underneath sides of the outer ends of arms ml of fuse holder supporting element I00. The

are formed so as to cooperate with roller I49 during initial outward movement of the lower end of the assembly to limit this initial outward movement to a substantially pure pivoting of the lower end of the assembly about the upper end of fuse holder 20, thereby to insure against disengagement of contact cap 22 from contact fingers I9 during the initial outward movement of the lower end of the assembly. The assembly, after a partial outward movement of the lower end thereof, is stopped in a second position, illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the door is in a partially open position to indicate operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 20. The restraining of the assembly in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 is accomplished by means of wedging engagement of the ends of a pair of arms I55, rigidly mounted on hinge lever IIO, with thefree ends of the arms of bracket I2I, as shown in Fig. 6. As previously pointed out, bracket I2I is held in its normal position, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, relative to the fuse holders by the anchoring of fuse link extension 25 to fuse terminal I34. Also, upon outward movement of the assembly, levers I46 are released to permit the contact I40 to be moved down into engagement with fuse terminal I34 by the expansion of bellows I4I due to the forcing of fluid thereinto from bellows I43. The rate at which the fluid passes through orifice I45 into bellows I4I may be regulated by suitable means such as a set screw I56, thereby providing a timing arrangement for delaying the movement of contact I40 into engagement with terminal I34 so as to provide for clearance of an initial temporary fault before the circuit is reclosed through the fuse link in fuse holder 2|. With the parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 6, the circuit between stationary contacts I0 and I3 extends through contact fingers I1 and I9, terminal cap 22, clamp I33, terminal cap 23, the fuse link in fuse holder 2|, fuse link extension 25, fuse terminal I34, contact I40, levers I46, bracket I2I, fuse holder supporting element I00, and contact arm I06.

Upon continuing or recurring fault, the fuse link in fuse holder 2| operates to release fuse link extension 25 so that door I20 may be moved outwardly with respect to the fuse holders by means of spring I31. This permits bracket I2I- to move outwardly relative to fuse holder supporting element I00 to the extent permitted by the travel of pins I26 in slots I25 and thereby releases the arms I55 for further movement of hinge lever IIO relative to the fuse holders. Contact arm I06 with its biasing spring I01 then becomes operative to force the assembly outwardly and downwardly until contact cap 22 disengages from contact fingers I9, whereupon the fuse assembly swings downwardly to dropped-out position wherein both of the fuse holders are disconnected from the stationary contacts. Fig. 7 illustrates in part the relative positions of the fuse holders, door and circuit reclosing mechanism following release of contact cap 22 from contact fingers I9 but before the assembly reaches final dropped-out position wherein the lower end of fuse holder 20 engages hinge lever H0 and the lower edge of the cutout casing to prevent rotation of the assembly below a substantially horizontal position.

Ruptured fuse links may be replaced in the fuse holders in the same manner as set forth in connection with the firstembodiment described, the fuse holders being released at the upper end for outward rotation relative to the door recess by disengaging the arms of retaining clip I30 from projections I32 on clamp I33. Following the installation of new fuse links in the fuse holders and reengagement of the arms of clip I30 with projections I32, hinge lever H0 is latch d in rigid relation with fuse holder 20 by pass ng the fuse link extension 24 around the projection II4 on the hinge lever and then anchoring the fuse link extension to the hinge lever by means of the terminal clamp H5. With the upper ends of the fuse holders latched in their inward positions relative to the door recess by means of retaining clip I 30, the lower ends of the fuse holders and their supporting element I00 are pressed into the door recess and latched in position by drawing fuse link extension 25 taut and anchoring it to fuse terminal I34 by means of clamp I36. The hook-shaped portion of hinge lever I I0 is then mounted upon hinge pin 32 and the fuse assembly is rotated into its normal operative position, illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the assembly is latched by engagement of spring contact fingers I8 with terminal cap 22. As the assembly is forced into its operative position in the casing, projections I52 of levers I46 engage the edges of the casing, as shown in Fig. 8, causing the levers to rotate about pins I51 to force contact I40 into its open circuit position illustrated in Fig. 5. Moving the contact I40 upwardly forces fluid from bellows I4I into bellows I 43 to create a pressure in the bellows I43, thereby to cook the circuit reclosing mechanism. The door is provided with a handle I51 to be grasped for manually swinging the fuse assembly into or out of normal operative position.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, the fuse holders 20 and H are held in parallel side by side relationship, and maintained against lateral and longitudinal displacement relative to each other, by means of a fuse holder supporting element I6II having socket openings for receiving the fuse holders and mounted on the fuse holders adjacent the bottoms thereof, and also by means of clamp I66 mounted on the fuse holders adjacent the upper ends thereof and in contact with terminal caps 22 and 23. A cutout casing door I6I is attached to the fuse holders at the top in a manner similar to that described in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 5-9 by engagement of retaining clip ISIIJ mounted on the door with projecting bosses I 32 carried by clamp I233. The lower end of the door is attached to the fuse holders by means of a bracket I 82 which has ears I63 secured to the door by means of screws I64! and which has slotted arms I65 disposed on opposite sidesof fuse holder supporting element I60 in slidable engagement with pins I66 mounted in openings I61 of the supporting element. As in the previously described embodiments, door I6! has a recessed inner face for the accommodation of fuse holder 2I and parts of the circuit reclosing mechanism, later to be described, which would project beyond the open face of a relatively shallow cutout casing such as ordinarily employed in non-reclosing fuse cutout installations. Door I6 I has also a handle I 68 to be grasped for manual operation of the fuse assembly into or out of normal operative position.

The fuse assembly is supported in cutout casing I0 by means of a hinge lever I 10 which has at one end a hook-shaped portion III for detachable hinged connection with hinge pin 32 carried by hinge bracket I5 of the cutout casing and which lever has at its other end a bore I12 through which passes a pivot pin I13 supported in openings I14 adjacent the outer ends of spaced parallel arms I15 of supporting element I60, so that the lever is pivotally connected to the supporting element and rotatable between arms I15. Hinge lever I10 is arranged to be held normally in rigid relation to fuse holder 20 by means of fuse link extension 24 which is passed around projecting boss I16 on the lower end of the lever and anchored to the lever by means of fuse terminal clamp I11. Rollers I18 are mounted on lever I10 for engagement with curved guide ways I19 on the lower edges of the ends of arms I15 to limit initial outward movement of the fuse assembly to a substantially pure pivoting of the lower end of the assembly about contact cap 22 as and for the purpose set forth in connection with the embodiments previously described. Supporting element I60 has attached thereto also a contact arm I which is rotatably mounted on a pin I8I carried in openings I82 adjacent the outer ends of arms I15. This contact arm is biased for engagement with lower stationary contact I3 by means of a coil spring I83, one end of which bears against the back of the contact arm and the other other end of which is supported on the projection I84 and bears against a portion of the supporting element I60. In order to limit the relative movement between the hinge lever and the fuse holder assembly for a purpose to be pointed out hereinafter, there is provided a U-shaped tie wire I85, the connecting portion I86 of which is slidable in a curved slot I81 in the hinge lever and the legs of which U-shaped tie wire have at their ends outtur'ned projections I68 which are slidable in slots I89 in the arms I15 of supporting element I68. Normally, when the hinge lever is latched in rigid relation to fuse holder 20, as shown in Fig. 10, the connecting portion I86 of the tie wire is disposed in the lower end of slot I8I, while the projections I88 are disposed in the upper ends of slots I I39. The lower end of door I6I is normally held in its inward position relative to the fuse holders by fuse link extension 25 which is anchored by means of termi-. nal clamp I86 to a fuse terminal I8I carried by a projection I 82 on the inner face of the door. When the door is so held, ledges I93 on the outer ends of the-arms of bracket I62 engage projections I88 of tie wire I to hold these projections in the upper ends of slots I88.

When the parts of the cutout are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 10, the fuse link in fuse holder 28 is connected between stationary contacts I2 and It, the circuit extending through contact fingers I1 and I 8, terminal cap 22, the fuse link in fuse holder 28, fuse link extension 24, fuse clamping terminal III, hinge lever I10, a portion of the arms I15 of supporting element I60, and contact arm I80. The engagement of rollers I78 with guide surfaces I10 aids in providing a path of good conductivity between the hinge lever and the fuse holder supporting element. Upon operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 20, fuse link extension 24' is released to permit relative movement between the fuse holders and hinge lever I10 and the pressure exerted by contact arm I80 against stationary contact I3 due to the action of spring I83 swings the lower end of the fuse assembly to the position illustrated in Fig. 11, the initial outward movement of the assembly being a substantially pure pivoting of the lower end thereof about the upper end thereof as previously set forth. The assembly is restrained in this second position by means of tie wire I 85 since the connecting portion I86 of the tie wire moves into engagement with the upper end of slot I81 'in the hinge lever, while the projections I88 of the tie wire are held in the upper ends of slots I89 by the shoulders I93. Under these circumstances, the door is in partially open position to give indication of operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 20, while contact cap 22 is still latched its connected position by spring contact fingers A pair of movable contacts I 95 are provided for completing an electric connection between lower stationary contact I3 and fuse terminal I9I which is normally isolated from contact I3. These movable contacts I95 are arranged to engage upwardly projecting arms I96 of fuse terminal I9I and are mounted on rods I91 which are slidably supported in openings I98 in a bracket I99 which depends from fuse holder supporting element I60. Flexible leads 200 provide direct electric connection between rods I91 and contact arm I80. Contacts I95 are biased for engagement with fuse terminal arms I96 by means of coil springs 20I but are maintained normally in open circuit position by a detent plate 202 having upwardly extending notched arms 203 arranged to engage notches 204 in contact supporting rods I91. Detent plate 202 is supported by means of a rod 205 which is vertically slidable in a bore 206 in supporting element I60. To the lower end of rod 205 are secured arms 201 which, when the parts of the cutout are in their normal positions illustrated in Fig. 10, are engaged by projections I16 of hinge lever I10 to hold plate 202 in its upper latching position. I

Upon release of hinge lever I10 by operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 20, and resulting outward movement of the fuse holders to the position illustrated in Fig. 11, as previously described, hinge lever projections I16 disengage from arms 201 to permit downward movement of rod 205 by means of levers 2I0 which are arranged to engage a bearing plate 2 on the upper end of the rod. Levers 2I0 are pivotally mounted on a bracket 2I2 carried by the door and are normally biased to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in the drawings, from their positions illustrated in Fig. 10 to their positions illustrated in Fig. 11 by means of an operating mechanism, indicated at 2 I3, which is connected with the levers by means of a plunger 2M. This operating mechanism may be of the fluid bellows type described in detail in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5-9 inclusive, or may be of any other suitable type as desired. It is preferably that the operating mechanism-include also an adjustable timing means, as pointed out in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 5-9, for delaying the counterclockwise rotation of levers 2I0.

Upon outward movement of the fuse holder assembly to the position illustrated in Fig. 11 upon operation of the fuse link in fuse holder 20, rod 205 is released for downward movement by levers 2I0 under the influence of time delayed operating mechanism 2I3. After a sufficient downward movement of rod 205, the slotted arms 203 of detent plate 202 disengage from the grooves 204 in contact carrying rods I91, whereupon springs 20I force the contacts I95 quickly into engagement with fuse terminal arms I96 to reclose the circuit through the fuse link in fuse holder 22I. The reclosed circuit extends from upper stationary contact I2 through contact fingers I1 and I9, contact cap 22, clamp I33, contact cap 23, the fuse link in fuse holder 2I, fuse link extension 25, terminal I9I, contacts I95, rods I91, leads 200, and contact arm I to lower stationary contact I3.

In case of continuing or recurring fault, the fuse link in fuse holder 2| operates to release fuse link extension 25 whereupon springs 20I further expand to swing the lower end of door IISI outwardly about projections I32 and away from the fuse holders. This results in outward movement of bracket I62 so that shoulders I93 release projections I88 of tie wire I and the projections slide downwardly in groove I89 to permit further relative movement between the fuse holders and the hinge lever. The assembly then swings outwardly and at the same time drops down sufficiently to disengage contact cap 22 from contact fingers I9 so that the assembly may swing to the dropped-out position whereupon the parts occupy the positions indicated in Fig. 12 and wherein the fuse holders are disconnected from the stationary contacts.

For refusing, hinge lever I10 is disengaged from hinge pin 32 and the fuse assembly is removed from casing l0. By spreading the arms of retaining clip I30 apart, the upper ends of the fuse holders are released for outward movement relative to the door recess so that ready access may be had to contact caps 22 and 23 for removal thereof and for installation of new fuse links in the fuse holders. When the new fuse links are installed and the contact caps replaced on the fuse holders, the upper end of the fuse holder assembly is pressed back into the door recess and latched by means of retaining clip I30 and the lower end of the fuse holder assembly is pressed into the door recess and latched by anchoring fuse link extension 25 to fuse terminal I9I, the hinge lever being held against fuse holder 20 to permit shoulders I93 to slide under projections I88 of the tie wire I85. Contacts I are then pressed backwardly into their open circuit positions and latched therein by moving the rod 205 upwardly until slotted arms 203 engage notches 204 in rods I91. Upward pressure of rod 205 on levers 2I0 cocks the operating mechanism 2I3 for further operation and rod 205 is latched in its upward position by engagement of hinge lever projections I16 with arms 201 on the lower end of the rod. The hinge lever is latched in rigid relation to fuse holder 20 by passing fuse link extension 24 around projection, I16 and anchoring the extension to the hinge lever by fuse terminal clamp I11. The assembly is then ready for installation in cutout casing I0 by mounting the hinge lever on the hinge bracket and rotating the assembly around hinge pin 32 until contact arms I9 engage contact cap 22 to hold the assembly in normal operative position with the door closing the open side of the cutout casing.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided circuit reclosing apparatus of improved construction and arrangement of parts which may be furnished to electric operating companies and the like in the form of a single unit embodying a plurality of fuse holders, a circuit reclosing mechanism and time delay mechanism with the necessary connections and means for detachably mounting the unit on a cutout supporting structure of standard design. Such a unit has, among others, the advantages that it maybe used as a replacement for similar units or may be made interchangeable with fuse units of the non-reclosing type so that, without modification of the cutout supporting structure and stationary contacts carried thereby, an electric cutout of the non-reclosing type may be converted readily to one of the reclosing type, or vice versa, without the necessity for removal of the cutout supporting structure from the line pole or the like upon which the supporting structure is mounted in the field.

It will be apparent also to one skilled in the art that my present invention is not limited to the particular details of the exemplary cutouts illustrated. For example, by simple modifications well within the range of mechanical skill, the illustrated circuit reclosing units may be adapted for use also in cutouts of the open type.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation in an electric cutout or like casing having spaced contacts mounted therein; said unit comprising in combination a door adapted to close an open side of a cutout or like casing, a plurality of fuse holders, means supporting said holders in substantially parallel side by side relationship on the inner side of said door, said holders being prevented by said supporting means from substantial lateral movement relative to each other, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between spaced contacts in an electric cutout or like casing, means including a movable contact element operable for connecting a fuse link in another of said holders between spaced contacts in an electric cutout or like casing, means for latching said contact element normally in open circuit position, said latching means being releasable in response to operation of a fuse link in said one holder, means operable upon release of said latching means for effecting operation of said contact element to circuit closing position, and timing mechanism connected for delaying the operation of said contact element to circuit closing position.

2. In an electric cutout including a casing and stationary contacts carried thereby, the combination of a door for said casing, a plurality of fuse holders attached to said door, said holders and door constituting part of a unitary fuse assembly means for 'movably supporting said assembly in said casing, means for latching said assembly in normally operative position with said door closing an open side of said casing, said latching means being releasable by operation of a fuse link in one of said holders, means for connecting a fuse link in said one of said holders between said contacts, means operable upon release of said latching means for effecting movement of said assembly from normal operative position to a second position, a normally open switch operable for completing an electric connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between said contacts, means releasable by movement of said assembly from normally operative position for effecting closure of said switch-and timing mechanism connected for delaying closure of said switch.

3. In an electric cutout, the combination with a casing and spaced contacts supported therein, of means including a movably mounted cover arranged to close an open side of said casing, a fuse holder assembly supported in the casing and including a plurality of fuse holders, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said contacts, circuit reclosing switching means operable for completing a connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between said contacts, means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting operation of said switching means and movement of said cover to an indicating position, and timing mechanism connected for delaying the operation of said switching means.

4. A circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation in an electric cutout or like casing having spaced contacts mounted therein; said unit comprising in combination a door adapted to close an open side of a cutout or like casing, a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders supported on the inner side of said door, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing, and time delayed circuit reclosing mechanism operable for completing a connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing, said door having a recess formed in the inner side thereof and arranged to accommodate a substantial portion of said mechanism.

5. A circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation in an electric cutout or like casing having spaced contacts mounted therein; said unit comprising in combination a door adapted to close an open side of a cutout or like casing and formed with a recess in the inner side thereof, a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders supported on the inner side of said door, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing, circuit reclosing mechanism operable for completing a connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing, and timing mechanism connected for controlling the operation of said circuit reclosing mechanism, at least a substantial portion of said timing mechanism being disposed in said recess in the inner side of the door.

6. An electric circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation on a supporting structure having upper and lower stationary contacts; said unit comprising in combination a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, said carrying means supporting said holders in substantially parallel side by side relationship and preventing substantial lateral movement of the holders relative to each other, a hinge member attached to said assembly and adapted for quick detachable hinged mounting of the lower end of the assembly on a supporting structure, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between spaced stationary contacts, circuit reclosing mechanism including a contact element movable relative to said assembly and hinge member for completing a circuit through a fuse link in another of said holders, latching means for restraining said contact element normally in an open circuit position and releasable in response to operation of a fuse link in said one holder, means for effecting operation of said contact element to circuit closing position upon release of said latching means and time delay mechanism for controlling the operation of said contact element.

7. In an electric cutout including a supporting structure and spaced contacts carried thereby, a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, a hinge member for hinged mounting of said holders and carrying means on said supporting structure, circuit reclosing mechanism operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in one of said holders for establishing a circuit through a fuse link in another of said holders; said holders, carrying means, hinge member and mechanism constituting part of a unitary assembly for removable mounting on said supporting structure; said mechanism in cluding a contact element supported for movement relative to said holders and hinge member and operable for completing a circuit through a fuse link in said other holder; means including said hinge member for supporting said assembly on said structure removably in an operative position with a fuse link in said one holder connected between said contacts, means releasable in response to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting movement of the assembly to another operative position, and means releasable in response to movement of said assembly from its first mentioned operative position for effecting operation of said contact element to circuit closing position.

8. In an electric cutout,'the combination of a supporting structure, spaced stationary contacts carried thereby, a fuse assembly removably mounted on said structure and including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means for latching said assembly removably in an operative position and arranged to release the assembly upon operation of a fuse link in one of said holders, means for connecting a fuse link in said one holder between said contacts, means operable upon release of the assembly for moving the assembly to another operative position, circuit reclosing mechanism carried by the assembly and releasable by movement of said assembly from its first mentioned operative position for connecting a fuse link in another of said holders between said contacts, and timing means carried by the assembly connected for delaying operation of said circut reclosing mechanism.

9. In an electric cutout, the combination of spaced stationary contacts, a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means for supporting said, assembly including a hingedly mounted lever pivotally connected with the assembly, means for latching said lever in rigid relation to said assembly and arranged to be released by operation of a fuse link in one of said holders, means for connecting a fuse link in said one of said holders between said contacts, a switching element carried by said lever and movable relative thereto, said switching element being normally held in open circuit position when said lever is latched in rigid relation to said assembly and being operable to a circuit closing position for completing an electric connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between said contacts, and means releasable by relative movement between said lever and said assembly 'for moving the switching element to circuit closing position.

10. In an electric cutout, the combination of spaced stationary contacts, a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means for supporting said assembly in operative position including a hingedly mounted lever pivotally connected to -the assembly, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said contacts, means for connecting one end of a fuse link in a second of said holders with one of said contacts, a terminal arranged for connection having spaced stationary contacts;

with the other end of a fuse link in said second holder, a switch element movably mounted on said lever and biased to engage said terminal for connecting the terminal with the other of said contacts, means for latching said lever in rigid relation to said one fuse holder and arranged to release the lever upon operation of a fuse link in said one holder, means operative to latch said switch element out of engagement with said terminal when 'said lever is latched in rigid relation to said one fuse holder, said switch element latch being releasable by movement of the lever relative to said one holder to permit movement of the switch element into engagement with said terminal, and time delay mechanism carried by said lever connected for delaying the movement of the switch element into engagement with the terminal.

11. In an electric cutout, the eombination'of spaced stationary contacts, a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, terminal means at one end of said-assembly arranged to connect with one end of a fuse link in each of said holders, means for supporting said assembly removably in an operative position with said terminal means engaging one of said contacts, means for connecting the other end of a fuse link in one of said holders with the other of said contacts, means operable in response to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for connecting the other end of a fuse link in another of said holders to said other contact and for exerting force tending to move the assembly outwardly from its first mentioned operative position to a second operative position, means for latching said one end of the assembly in inward position, and means providing guide ways operatively connected with the assembly for effecting a substantially pure pivoting of the other end of the assembly about said one end of-the assembly as the assembly moves from its first mentioned operative position to its second mentioned operative position upon operation of a fuse link in said one holder.

12. A circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation ona supporting structure said unit comprising in combination a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between spaced stationary contacts, a hinge lever pivotally connected with the assembly and adapted for hingedly mounting the assembly on a supporting structure, means provided for latching of said lever in fixed relation to the assembly, said lever being releasable for movement relative to the assembly in response to operation of a fuse link in said one holder, circuit reclosing mechanism including a contact element supported for movement relative to said assembly and hinge lever and operable for completing a circuit through a fuse link in another of said holders, said contact element being normally in an open circuit position, and means releasable in response to movement of said lever relative to said assembly for effecting operation of said contact element to circuit closing position. v

13. A circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted to be removably mounted on a supporting structure having spaced stationary contacts, said unit including in combination a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, spaced terminal means arranged to engage spaced stationary contacts, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said terminal means, a lever pivotally connected with the assembly and arranged for hingedly mounting the assembly on a supporting structure, means for latching said lever in rigid relation to the assembly and arranged to release the lever for movement relative to the assembly upon operation of a fuse link in said one holder, a normally open switch movable relative to the assembly to a circuit closing position for completing an electric connection through a fuse link in another of said holders, means releasable by movement of said lever relative to said assembly for effecting operation of said switch to circuit closing position, and time delay mechanism for delaying movement of the switch to circuit closing position.

14. In a circuit reclosing device, the combination of a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means thereforfmeans for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders in an electric circuit, means including a movable switch carried by said assembly operable for completing an electric connection through a fuse link in a second one of said holders, a detent carried by said assembly, said switch and said detent being supported for movement relative to each other, latching means for maintaining said switch and said detent normally in looking engagement to hold said switch in open circuit position, 'said latching means being arranged to be released by operation of a fuse link in said one holder, means operable upon release of said latching means for effecting relative movement between said detent and said switch to release the switch from the detent, and means operable upon release of the switch for effecting movement of the switch to circuit closing position.

15. In a circuit reclosing device, the combination of a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders in an electric circuit, means including a movable switch carried by said assembly operable for completing an electric connection through a fuse link in a second one of said holders, a detent carried by said assembly, said switch and said detent being supported for movement relative to each other, latching means for maintaining said switch and said detent nor.- mally in looking engagement to hold said switch in open circuit position, said latching means being arranged to be released by operation of a fuse link in said one holder, means operable upon release of said latching means for effecting relative movement between said detent and said switch to release the switch from the detent, time delay mechanism for delaying the release of said switch from said detent, and, means operable upon release of the switch for effecting movement of the switch to circuit closing position.

16. An electric circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation on a supporting structure having spaced stationary contacts;

said unit comprising in combination a fuse.

holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means for removable mounting of said unit on a supporting structure, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between spaced stationary contacts, circuit reclosing mechanism including a contact element supported for moveaicaoss ment relative to said'holders and operable for completing a circuit through a fuse link in another of said holders, a detent, said contact element and detent being supported for relative movement, latching means for maintaining said contact element and detent normally in locking engagement to hold said contact element in open circuit position, said latching means being arranged tobe released in response to operation of a fuse link in said one holder, means operable upon release of said latching means for effecting relative movement between said contact element and said detent to release the contact element from the detent, timing mechanism for delaying release of the contact element from the detent, and means operable for efiecting movement of the contact element to circuit closing position upon release of the contact element from the detent.

17. An electric circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation on a supporting structure having spaced stationary contacts; said unit comprising in combination a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, a hinge lever pivotally connected with the assembly and adapted for removable hinged mounting of the assembly on a supporting structure, means for connectinga fuse link in one of said holders between spaced stationary contacts, said hinge lever being arranged to' be latched normally in fixed relation to said assembly and to be released for movement relative to the assembly upon operation of a fuse link in said one holder, circuit reclosing mechanism including a contact element operable for completing a circuit through a fuse link in another of said holders, a detent arranged to hold said contact element in an open circuit position, said detent and contact element being supported for relative movement, means releasable in response to relative movement between said hingelever and said assembly for effecting relative movement between said contact element and said detent to release the contact element from the detent. timing mechanism connected for delaying release of the contact element from the detent, and means for effecting movement of the contact element to circuit closing position upon release of said element from said detent.

18. In an electric cutout, the combination of a cutout supporting structure, spaced stationary contacts carried thereby, a fuse assembly movably mounted on said supporting structure and including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means for conmeeting a fuse link in one of said holders between said contacts, means for connecting a fuse link in a second of said holders between said contacts including a normally open switch, a latch connected with said switch and arranged to engage a portion of said supporting structure for holding the switch in open circuit position, said latch being releasable by outward movement of said assembly relative to said supporting struc ture, means releasably by operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting outward movement of said assembly, and means operable upon release of said latch for effecting movement of said switch to circuit closing position.

19. In an electric cutout including a supporting structure and spaced stationary contacts,

and common carrying means therefor, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said contacts, circuit reclosing mechanism including a contact element movable relative to said holders for completing a circuit through a fuse link in another of said holders, said contact element being normally in open circuit position, and means including a fluid containing collapsible bellows connected with said contact element, releasable in response to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting time delayed movement of said contact element to circuit closing position.

20. An electric circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation in an electric cutout or like casing having an open side and spaced contacts mounted therein; said unit including in combination a door adapted to close an open side of a cutout or like casing, a plurality of fuse holders, means supporting said,

holders on the inner side of said door including a member detachably secured to the inner side of said door and having a plurality of socket openings for receiving said holders in substantially parallel side by side relationship, said member preventing substantial lateral movement of said holders relative to each other, and means including circuit reclosing switching mechanism forming part of said unit operable for effecting successive connection of fuse links in said holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing.

21. In an electric cutout including a casing and spaced stationary contacts carried thereby, the combination of a fuse holder supporting element removably mounted in said casing, a plurality of fuse holders carried by said supporting element and arranged to be connected successively between said contacts, means connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said contacts, a door for said casing mounted on said supporting element and movable relative to said holders, quick releasable latching means for maintaining said door normally in rigid relation to said holders, and circuit reclosing mechanism supported for removal with said holders and door and operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for connecting a fuse link in a second one of said holders between said contacts.

22. In combination, a door adapted to close an open side of an electric cutout casing and having a recess in the inner side thereof, a fuse holder assembly movably attached to the inner side of said door and including a plurality of fuse holders, quick releasable latching means for maintaining said assembly normally fixed with relation to said door with a substantial part of certain of said holders disposed in said recess, and means operative upon release of said latching means to provide for movement of said certain of said holders out of said recess for installation of fuse links therein without detachmerit of said door from said assembly.

23. In combination, a door adapted to close an open side of an electric cutout or like casing, said door having an elongated recess in the inner side thereof, a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders, means attaching said assembly removably to the inner side of the door, and a quick releasable latching means operable for maintaining said assembly substantially fixed relative to the door with a substantial portion of certain of said holders accommodated in said recess, said attaching means, upon release of said latching means, providing for movement of said certain of said holders out of said recess without detachment of said assembly from the door.

24. In combination, a door adapted to close an open side of an electric cutout casing and having an elongated recess in the inner face thereof, a fuse holder pivotally attached to the inner face of said door, and quick releasable latching means normally operative to maintain said fuse holder fixed with respect to said door with'a substantial part of the fuse holder disposed in said recess, said fuse holder upon release of said latching means being swingable out of said recess, without detachment of the fuse holder from the door for ready installation of a fuse link therein.

25. In a fuse device adapted to be mounted in an electric cutout casing, the combination of a cutout casing door, a plurality of fuse holders each having a terminal cap adjacent one end thereof, a metal member having openings for accommodating said holders in side by side relationship and mounted on the fuse holders in engagement with said terminal caps to provide electric connection therebetween, projections on opposite sides of said member, and means for attaching said holders to said door including a pair of arms mounted on said door and arranged to accommodate said member therebetween, said arms being biased into engagement with said member and having openings for receiving said projections.

26. In a fuse device adapted to be mounted in an electric cutout casing, the combination with a plurality of fuse holders and a cutout casing door, of means for attaching said holders to said door including a member having openings for accommodating said holders in side by side relationship and a socket element on said door, said member being slidable longitudinally on said holders and having a portion formed for quick releasable snap engagement with said socket element.

27. In a circuit reclosing fuse unit, the combination of a fuse holder supporting member, a pair of fuse holders supported thereby, a pair of terminal carrying elements attached to said member, a pair of fuse terminals mounted respectively on said elements and electrically insulated from each other, one of said elements being movable relative to one of said holders and being arranged to be held in rigid relation to said one holder by a fuse link in said one holder attached to the fuse terminal carried by said one element, the fuse terminal on the other of said elements being arranged for connection with a fuse link in the other of said holders, and circuit reclosing mechanism including a normally open switch operable responsively to relative movement between said one element and said one fuse holder for establishing an electric connection between said fuse terminals.

28. In a circuit reclosing fuse device adapted for installation in an electric cutout or like casing, the combination of a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, arranged to support the holders in a cutoutor like casing for connection of fuse links in the holders between spaced contacts in such casing, a door movably attached to said assembly and arranged to close an open side of a cutout or like casing, a fuse terminal carried by said door and having means for anchoring one end of a fuse link thereto to latch the door in substantially fixed relation to said assembly, and means operable for effecting successive connection of fuse links in said holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing.

29. A circuit reclosing device for installation in an electric cutout or like casing; said device comprising in combination a door for closing an open side of a cutout or like casing, a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, a pivotal connection between said assembly and door adjacent the upper end thereof, a fuse terminal attached to the door adjacent the lower end there of, means for securing one end of a fuse link in one of said holders to said terminal, thereby to hold said door in substantially fixed relation to said assembly, means for mounting the assembly in an electric cutout or like casing and means operable for efiecting successive connection of fuse links in said holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing.

30. In an electric cutout, the combination with a casing having spaced contacts therein, of a fuse holder assembly hingedly supported in said casing and including a plurality of fuse holders, means for releasably restraining said assembly in an operative position with a fuse link in one of said holders connected between said contacts, said restraining means being releasable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder, a door supported for closing an open side of said casing and arranged for movement relative to said assembly, means for latching the door in substantially fixed relation to the assembly and arranged to release the door for movement thereof relative to the assembly in response to operation of a fuse link in another of said holders, means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting movement of said assembly out of said first mentioned operative position and for establishing connection of a fuse link in said other holder between said contacts, and means arranged to restrain said assembly in a second operative position, said last mentioned restraining means being releasable responsively to movement of the door relative to the assembly, to permit movement of the assembly out of said second mentioned operative position.

31. In an electric cutout, the combination with a casing having spaced contacts therein, of a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders, means for supporting said assem-, bly in said casing including a hingedly mounted lever pivotally connected with the assembly, means for releasably restraining the assembly in an operative position with a fuse link in one of said holders connected between said contacts, said restraining means being releasable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder, a door attached to said assembly for movement relative thereto and arranged to close an open side of said casing, a detent carried by the door, means for latching the door in substantially fixed relation to the assembly and arranged to release the door for movement relative to the assembly in response to operation of a fuse link in another of said holders, means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting movement of the assembly out of said first mentioned operative position and for establishing connection of a fuse link in said other holder between said contacts, and means associated with said lever arranged for cooperation with said detent on the door to enemas restrain the assembly in a second operative position, said assembly being movable to a disconnected position in response to movement of the door-relative to the assembly.

32. In an electric cutout, the combination of a casing, spaced contacts therein, a fuse assembly including a fuse holder and a door for an open side of said casing, said door being connected with said holder for movement relative thereto, means tending to effect movement of the door relative to the holder, means for latching the door in substantially fixed relation to the holder and arranged to release the door for movement relative to the holder in response to operation of a fuse link in the holder, a detent carried by the door, means hingedly supporting said assembly in said casing, means arranged to cooperate with said detent for releasably restraining the holder in an operative position with a fuse link in the holder connected between said contacts when the door is latched in fixed relation to the holder, said restraining means being releasable responsively to movement of the door relative to the holder, and means operable for eflecting movement of said holder to dropped-out position uponrelease of said restraining means.

33. In an electric cutout, the combination of a casing, spaced contacts therein, a fuse assembly including a fuse holder and a door for an open side of said casing, said door being connected with said holder for movement relative thereto, means for latching the door in substantially fixed relation to the holder and arranged to release the door for movement relative to the holder in response to operation of a fuse link in the holder, means for hingedly supporting said assembly in said casing, and means operable for releasably restraining the holder in an operative position with a fuse link therein connected between said contacts when the door is latched in fixed relation to the holder, said restraining means being releasable in response to movement of the door relative to the holder, and the holder being movable to dropped-out position upon release of the restraining means.

34. In an electric cutout, the combination of a casing, spaced contacts therein, a fuse assembly including a fuse holder and a door for an open side of said casing, said door being connected with said holder for substantially pivotal movement relative thereto, means tending to effect movement of the door relative to the holder, a fuse terminal on the door, means for securing one end of a fuse link in the holder to said terminal to latch the door in substantially fixed relation to the holder, means for hingedly supporting said assembly in said casing, and means operable, when the door is latched in fixed relation to the holder, for restraining the holder in an operative position with a fuse link in the holder connected between said contacts, said door being releasable by operation of a fuse link in the holder for movement of the door relative to the holder, and said restraining means being operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting movement of said door from normal position to an indicating position, a contact element operable to a circuit closing position for completing a connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between said contacts, means normally latching said contact element in 'open circuit position, said latching means being releasable by movement of said door from normal position, and means operable for efi'ecting movement of said contact element to circuit closing position upon release of said latching means.

36. In an electric cutout, the combination of a casing, spaced contacts therein, a movably mounted door arranged normally to close an open side of the casing, a plurality of fuse holders, means supporting said holders in the casing for connection of fuse'links therein between said contacts, means for connecting a fuse link in one of the holders between between said contacts, means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting movement of said door from normal position to an indicating position, a contact element normally in open circuit position and operable to a circuit closing position for completing an electric connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between said contacts, means releasable by movement of said door from normal position for eflecting operation of said contact element to circuit closing position, and timing mechanism connected for controlling the operation of said contact element to circuit closing position.

' RALPH S. BENNETT.

CERTIFICATE or connscrros.

Patent lie 2,161 983 RALPH S BENNETT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in-the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as fo-llovrs: Page 3, first column, line 17, for "Home" readHence; page 5, first column, line 18 after ""othe'r insert end; page 6, second column, linez, for "other other-"read .other; page 7, first column, line 56, for the .wordlpreferably" readpre- 'f'erableg page 9, first column, iine k2, claimB, for "circut" read circuit; page 10, second columny line 66.01811; 18, for "releasably" read releasable; page 13 second column, line 3, claim 56, for "between between" read between; and that-the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

sign'ea'a a sealed this 15:}; day of august, A. n; 19 9.

'( Seal) Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

